While Eddie Howe's squad deserves credit for achieving this feat, it is evident that significant reinforcements are required to handle the demands of European football and compete at the highest level. Newcastle has already been linked with several playmakers, including James Maddison from Leicester City and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.
However, Newcastle can anticipate competition from other clubs, prompting them to explore alternative options in the coming weeks. According to the Daily Mail, the club is considering a move for Ferran Torres, who previously played for Manchester City.
During his brief spell in English football, Torres made a notable impact, contributing 16 goals and four assists in 43 appearances. It was only his desire to join Barcelona that led to an earlier-than-expected departure from the Etihad Stadium.
However, Torres has struggled to make a significant impact at Camp Nou, managing only seven goals and three assists in the 2022-23 season. He often found himself coming off the bench, with 19 of his 32 La Liga appearances as a substitute.
Although the 23-year-old appears content in his home country, Barcelona is under pressure to find solutions to bring back Lionel Messi and comply with La Liga regulations. The departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets on free transfers will alleviate the situation, but the Catalan giants are eager to make significant sales. Raphinha and Ansu Fati have also been linked with potential exits, although Xavi views Raphinha as an important player, and Fati is not inclined to leave the club at this stage.
Barcelona supposedly needs to generate £160 million through cost-cutting measures and player sales to meet La Liga regulations and proceed with further signings. Recent reports suggested a £26 million deal had been reached with Wolverhampton Wanderers for Ruben Neves, as the Premier League side aims to bolster its position in terms of Financial Fair Play (FFP) compliance as soon as possible.
